Concerned citizen involvement is vital in addressing data center projects and there are many ways to get involved
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When a 1,000-acre data center was proposed within a half-mile of Isabella Bevilacqua's Covington Township home in Lackawanna County, she felt a need to get involved -- especially after officials pushed through the application despite opposition of 500 of her neighbors and friends who showed up to the hearing.
"One of the biggest drivers for me is the lack of transparency, which is not acceptable when you're accountable to taxpayers," she said. "Also, the deforestation, destruction to protected wetlands, lack of environmental/health impact studies and the threat of light, noise and air pollution is deeply concerning. Not to mention, of course, the water. We're on a well, we depend on the health of the aquifer for our water needs."
She didn't realize getting involved would catapult her into a regional leader for data center opposition, but now she is regularly in contact with concerned citizen groups all across the state.
"I've even branched out across state lines, regularly connecting with peers in states like Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas," she said.
In all those locations, the one common denominator has been the vital importance of individuals getting involved like she did in a wide variety of ways.
"Community pressure is the only mechanism that forces local officials to pause, demand transparency and remember who they actually represent," she said, especially, she added, in cases where developers and local officials work under non-disclosure agreements for months - or even years - before the public is notified.
"By the time a proposal hits your backyard, the developer already has a massive head start," she said. "Without intense, organized and vocal community involvement, zoning changes and tax breaks are rubber-stamped."
Sam Burleigh, who helped organized the Concerned Citizens of Montour County movement in response to a zoning change request by Talen Energy in Anthony Township (Montour County) a short distance from his home, agreed with Bevilacqua.
"Community awareness and unity will make or break a campaign," he said. "Ask yourself if you want to leave this for your children and grandchildren to deal with?"
What "getting involved" looks like
According to Dr. Colby Wesner, another co-founder of the Concerned Citizens of Montour County group, suggested that getting involved means showing up.
"I have personally learned how incredibly, incredibly important it is to be involved in your local government. It is something I took for granted," he said. "Attending your small municipality public meetings is vital in keeping educated and engaged with the decisions that are being made to shape your communities."
For those who may neglect getting involved for fear of needing to speak publicly about concerns they have, Bevilacqua pointed out that "we need a backstage crew as much as we need people at the microphone."
As a data engineer and technology executive who plans data infrastructure strategy, "I'm one example of this backstage crew helping to drive the opposition."
Other ways to be supportive of a movement, according to Bevilacqua, includes "researching property records, analyzing town water reports, staying up to date on municipality meeting minutes, designing flyers, writing email templates, filing Right-To-Know requests or managing a Facebook group.
"The opportunities (to get involved) are endless, and the behind-the-scenes work is as critical as those who serve as the face of the fight," she said.
According to Burleigh, doing things like research may seem time-consuming and boring at times, "but that is how things get done.
"Once a person starts doing research and knowing it is credible information, their comfort zone will expand quickly. They will develop the confidence to speak more and speak from their heart, but know that what they say is the truth and no one will have the ability to question it," he said. "These companies and their lawyers use technical terms, but they are no better informed than one who has done the research."
Burleigh admitted that he knew nothing about data centers when he first got involved and only had some general knowledge on how local government worked, but "there is plenty of material available for anyone to learn and become knowledgeable."
That education should start locally, Wesner added.
"The best place to begin is learning about your township's ordinances and zoning," he said. "It is very important to be proactive in this process. You want to encourage your municipalities to have strong zoning and ordinances in place."
The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association serves an 11,000-square-mile watershed of the Susquehanna River, including Sullivan, Lycoming, Clinton, Union and Northumberland counties. Read more at www.middlesusquehannariverkeeper.org.